THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL. 89 



Nature apparently had formed him to fill, and 

 from which he never deflected throughout the 

 long course of an eventful life. 



During the summer season, however, another 

 out-of-door recreation, besides that of otter- 

 hunting, appears to have provided him, so long 

 as he indulged in it, with strong exercise and a 

 pleasant pastime. It was the game of cricket ; 

 which, although established at Lord's by the 

 Marylebone Club so far back as 1787, had taken 

 many a year to travel into Devonshire, where 

 it is doubtful if it became generally played 

 before 1823 or 1824. The up-and-down char- 

 acter of the country, in which it would be 

 difficult in scores of parishes to hnd a perfectly 

 level held, might have been some reason for its 

 long-deferred introduction into that county. Be 

 that as it may, there are no records to show 

 that the noble game of cricket became an in- 

 stitution in Devon before the i8th of May, 

 1824, when a club was formally established at 

 Teignbridge, that locality being admirably 

 adapted for the purpose, the play-ground being 

 level as a die, and conveniently near to the 

 houses of several of its most prominent 

 members. 



Russell attended the first meeting, held in a 

 " linhay " or cowshed, on that occasion ; played 

 in the first game ; and, with two of his brothers, 

 was constituted an honorary member of the 



